Europa Universalis IV Review (Kate27)
Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 168:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10)
Europa Universalis IV is a grand strategy titan:a sprawling, complex simulation of early modern geopolitics where you can lead any country in the world from 1444 to 1821. From colonial empires to small tribal states, the game offers an enormous amount of freedom and flexibility. It's also one of the most daunting strategy games out there, with an intimidating interface and a towering learning curve. EU4 rewards persistence with satisfying political schemes, economic puzzles, and alternate histories—but it demands patience, and the DLC model leaves many players feeling nickel-and-dimed.
Europa Universalis IV is an acquired taste—but once it clicks, it can be one of the most rewarding games you’ll ever play. It’s not pretty, it’s not beginner friendly, and it requires some serious commitment. But if you’re willing to learn, experiment, and embrace the chaos of early modern politics, it delivers a power fantasy like no other. Just be ready for the long haul—and maybe a few browser tabs open on the side.
💰 Pros:
Strategic depth that lasts for years. EU4 is both deep and complex. You don’t just declare war and march your troops. You think about coalition reactions, diplomatic relations, supply lines, battle tactics, terrain, manpower, and long-term consequences. You plan your tech advancement around institutions. You manipulate rivalries, exploit religion, and use subject nations to expand your influence without incurring aggressive expansion. It’s the kind of game you can sink 1,000 hours into and still find new layers of strategic interaction.
Incredible alternate history potential. This is where EU4 really shines: letting you rewrite the world. Will you restore the Roman Empire? Lead a Nahuatl Aztec crusade across Europe? Unite all of India under a Buddhist Raj? All of that is possible. Not through scripted storylines, but by using the game’s systemic mechanics to bend the map to your will. Watching strange outcomes organically emerge is part of the fun, and it gives every playthrough a sense of discovery.
Immersive country flavor and diversity. The amount of variation between nations is staggering. Muscovy plays like a militarized blizzard slowly expanding across Siberia. Venice focuses on trade and diplomacy. The Ottomans are a powerhouse with unique challenges tied to Janissaries and conversions. There’s a real effort to give each major power its own historical flavor, from national ideas to mission trees, unit models, and events. Some regions (like Europe or China) get more love than others, but even smaller nations can surprise you.
Rewarding long-term planning. EU4 is at its best when you’re three decades deep into a plan and it finally clicks. Like slowly vassalizing neighbors to avoid aggressive expansion penalties, marrying into a royal family to get a personal union, or stacking trade nodes to drain the New World into your treasury. The sense of payoff is massive—and because it’s not guaranteed (wars, disasters, or poor timing can ruin everything), it feels earned.
Modding and community support. This game has one of the most passionate and talented modding communities in grand strategy. From overhauls to quality-of-life improvements and fantasy total conversions, there’s a nearly endless array of content. Paradox has supported the game for over a decade, and the core systems still feel solid.
🖥️ Cons:
Brutal onboarding for new players. Even by Paradox standards, EU4 is difficult to learn. The tutorial is barebones, and tooltips, while informative, are dense and overwhelming. Most players will need to consult YouTube guides, Wikis, or subreddit FAQs just to survive their first campaign.
Visually functional, not beautiful. Let’s be honest: the UI and map are outdated. EU4 looks like a 2013 spreadsheet. There’s no battle animation, no fancy zoom-ins, and no real-world visuals beyond the nation-colored map. Clicking on provinces opens menus packed with stats, numbers, and mini-icons. The font is small. The color scheme is dated. It works, but it’s not intuitive or modern by any means.
Expensive and fragmented DLC model. This is one of the biggest complaints about EU4. While the base game is generous, most of the essential mechanics—like improved peace deals, estates, mission trees, or trade policy control—are locked behind DLC. Paradox has released dozens of expansions, flavor packs, and immersion packs over the years. While some are great, it’s hard to know which ones are worth it, and the cost adds up quickly unless you wait for a bundle or subscribe to the DLC library.
Late-game fatigue. The first 100-200 years are the most exciting. But after 1700, wars get slower, AI gets passive, and systems like absolutism and revolutionary fervor start to bog things down. The AI rarely puts up a huge fight in the late game, and you might find yourself painting the map without much resistance. Tech stops feeling meaningful, and the sheer scale of managing dozens of provinces and vassals can wear you out.
Occasional RNG and AI quirks. Coalition wars can feel arbitrary. Sometimes the AI blobs in weird, unhistorical ways. Naval warfare is shallow. And the AI can get very stubborn with alliances and peace offers. EU4 tries to simulate a lot, and sometimes the randomness undercuts your strategy. You might get unlucky with heir deaths, stability hits, or rebellious provinces for reasons that feel frustrating rather than fair.